There’s no question that surrogacy can be an expensive process, sometimes ranging anywhere from $60,000—$150,000. For many parents, finding that kind of money can be a daunting task, but there are options to create a more affordable surrogacy for you as intended parents.
While surrogacy expenses are not tax-deductible, and there are no tax credits for becoming parents through surrogacy, financing your surrogacy can be achieved through other options like loans, grants and fundraising. If you’re struggling to find ways to afford your surrogacy, don’t dismiss the importance of reaching out to friends and family for help.
In an ideal world, money would not prevent intended parents from becoming families. However, we understand the financial difficulties surrogacy may cause, so we’ve broken down some of the options you have for how to pay for surrogacy.
Loans
Loans are perhaps the most common way that intended parents pay for surrogacy. In fact, there are lenders out there that specialize in providing loans to couples undergoing fertility treatments and pursuing surrogacy.
Like any other loan, it’s important that you seriously consider the interest charged on loans for surrogacy and whether you can reasonably afford the monthly payments even after you become parents. Some examples of loans you might consider are:
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Home equity loans (using your home as collateral)
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Borrowing from 401(k) plans
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Credit cards (although beware of high interest rates)
For fertility-specific financing loans, some companies to contact are:
For a comprehensive list of available financing and loans for surrogacy and assisted reproduction, click here.
In addition, you shouldn’t count out your friends and family as sources for personal loans for surrogacy. Many of these people may have been there for you throughout your infertility process and know how badly you wish to be a parent, so they may be willing to provide you a loan on better terms than a lender company might.
Grants
Rather than borrowing money, you may have the opportunity to earn free funds for your surrogacy through fertility and surrogate grant programs. Of course, each program will have different requirements for their grant applications, so it’s important that you fully research each to decide which you best qualify for.
Some examples are:
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Family Formation Charitable Trust (AAAA): For assistance affording assisted reproductive technology
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Pay It Forward Fertility Grants: For assistance with fertility treatment at any fertility clinic that’s a member of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
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Tinina Q. Cade Foundation Family Building Grant: Provides up to $10,000 to infertile, needy families
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Baby Quest Foundation: For assistance with egg and sperm donation, egg freezing, in vitro fertilization, artificial insemination, embryo donation and gestational surrogacy
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Life Grants: Provides up to $10,000 to offset cost of infertility treatment and third party reproduction
Fundraising
Another common way that intended parents find money for their surrogacy payments is through community fundraising events. It may not have been obvious to you from the start, but many intended parents have a supportive community of friends and family members who are willing to help raise funds for assisted reproduction in several ways. Some fundraising options include:
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Online crowdfunding: You can reach out to a larger audience through sites like Kickstarter to share your infertility and surrogacy journey, and friends, family and strangers can easily donate as much or as little as they like.
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A community event: Whether it’s your typical garage sale or something larger like a silent auction, you can recruit your community to help you accept donations and raise money for your surrogacy process.
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Turn a hobby into a business: Sell your handmade goods or services on sites like Etsy or partner with a direct sales consultant to get your product out there. Put your profits toward your surrogacy funds.
As mentioned before, don’t be afraid to share your monetary needs with your friends and family. One easy way to raise money is by asking for surrogacy funds instead of traditional gifts during holidays or birthdays. Save your money wisely and dedicate a certain amount of your income each month to a special surrogacy savings account. The sooner you begin saving, the easier the process will be.
Affordable Surrogacy Options
If you’re looking for low-cost surrogacy programs, there are plenty of fertility clinics and surrogacy agencies that advocate for more affordable family-building options. Some have lower service costs in-house, while others partner with specific companies and programs to bring you a lower overall cost. You can find discounted treatment packages and financing through services like:
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Heart for Heroes Program (for eligible infertile veterans)
However, it’s important to note that if you go into your parenthood journey looking for cheap surrogacy options, you will likely have to sacrifice some level of service. In other words, you will get the level of service that you pay for.
That’s why American Surrogacy is one of your best options for your surrogacy journey. We understand the importance of high-quality service throughout your surrogacy process, which is why we place such an emphasis on a surrogacy journey that’s beneficial to all involved.
Remember, in many cases, a surrogate’s insurance may cover the pregnancy, which can also reduce the amount of money you’ll spend during your surrogacy journey. However, not all surrogates have insurance, so if you are relying on insurance to cover a surrogate’s pregnancy, we recommend you wait until you’ve sufficiently raised enough money for the potential costs.
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If you’re still considering surrogacy as one of your parenthood options, you might be wondering, “Is it cheaper to adopt or have a surrogate?” At this point in time, adoption is the cheaper option for creating a family, although both options will require substantial money saving to complete. If you’re interested in adoption as a way of growing your family, you can contact our sister company American Adoptions at 1-800-ADOPTION.
However, if you are confident that surrogacy is the right choice for you, you can contact us today with any questions or to get started by calling 1-800-875-2229 or submitting our online form.
Remember, this article is for informational purposes only. We are not financial professionals, and our word should not be considered as legal or financial advice. You should consult with a financial professional or attorney to determine the best options for your individual needs.